Higher security budget proposed for Cedar Rapids police

One of the minor City Hall hullabaloos of 2010 mattered a great deal to two popular annual Cedar Rapids events – the Freedom Festival and the July 4 Alliant Fifth Season 8K road race.

The budgets of both events were challenged by security costs proposed to be charged to them by the Cedar Rapids Police Department to pay overtime to police officers to work the events.

At the last minute, the City Council steered money to both events to lighten their security costs.

At a budget meeting last week, the City Council heard a proposal to add $25,000 a year to the Police Department's existing $25,000-a-year budget for event security, a move that will help local events provide security, which is required by the Police Department.

The council must approve its new budget by March 15 for the fiscal year beginning July 1.